You've hit the nail on the head, Biff, with what you've just written. And also to add to that, I'd never be happy with an SP10 unless I knew for sure that it was performing at 100% of its original sonic capability, exactly as it did when it was new (nothing else for me would be good enough) - and I'm not sure that this could ever be fully guaranteed. Otherwise, there would always be the 'what if?' factor, and the annoying feeling that you're using an old turntable, performing short of its full potential.

I bought my SL-1210MK5G brand new four years ago, so I have the peace of mind of knowing that only I have used it, and that the electronics are performing to their original spec and are of current manufacture; moreover I have the satisfaction of knowing that all the mods I've carried out have increased its sonic performance to a level at least equal (and in some ways superior) to that of any SP10 I've heard. And trust me I've heard some VERY good ones, comparing my T/T to them in the same system, so I can speak from considerable experience on this matter.

So no, the SP10 route, therefore, no longer holds any attraction for me. If I were to turn back the clock to before I'd bought my Techy, and embarked on modifying it, and were to choose another route, knowing what I know now about T/Ts, I'd unquestionably buy an immaculate Thorens TD-124, as every time I hear one, even with a modest arm and cartridge, it blows me away because, to my ears, it sounds so musically 'correct'.

For me, it's the ultimate 'no fuss' audiophile T/T: neat and compact, looks fab in a suitable plinth, is superbly engineered, entirely speed stable (seems to, sonically, have the best of both worlds between belt and direct-drive), can easily be made to take a 12" arm, and short of making sure that mechanically it's performing as it should (the unit is easily serviced), the T/T needs bugger all doing to it but fitting a nice arm and cartridge. In short, for me, the TD-124 a totally sorted design.

It would probably also have been rather cheaper too than what my modded Techy has cost to get to where it is now! Having said that however, I'm very happy with my Techy, as to my ears it's one of the finest T/Ts I've heard, playing all genres of music to an effortlessly high standard, and as such is an utter joy to listen to every time the needle hits a record.

I guess that you can't say any better than that!

Marco.